The Continental Mark V is a personal luxury coupe marketed in North America by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company for model years 1977–1979.

During its development, stylists tested taillights that curved into the top of the rear fender blades, which failed to gain approval of the focus clinics.

[citation needed] Also, 1977 was the first year since 1960 that a Mark-series model came with an all-metal, body-color painted (non-vinyl covered) roof as standard equipment.

Standard tires in all three years were Michelin (225-15) steel-belted radials with a narrow white sidewall design.

First optional in 1975, and remaining so through the end of the 1979 model year, were Goodyear's LR78-15" Custom Polysteel radials, in a dual band wide whitewall design.

A Diamond Jubilee Edition package was introduced to commemorate Ford Motor Company's 75th anniversary.

Designer Series Editions and the Luxury Group offerings continued with revised color selections and trim.

1978 models featured optional one year only, electro-mechanical seat belt warning chimes, standard only on Diamond Jubilee Edition.

The 7.5 L (460 cid) V8 and dual-exhaust 400 V8 are discontinued to meet the newly mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

The latter received a floor-mounted foot switch to scan radio stations or advance tracks on the 8-track player.

The also-optional very popular Turbine Style Aluminum Wheels continued with argent accent paint between the spokes, except on Collector's Series, and the Cartier, Bill Blass, and Givenchy Designer Series - where these models would be treated to color-keyed paint between the spokes, for unique added flair.

The white canvas-textured vinyl Carriage Roof option was standard on Bill Blass Designer Series with revised interior rear quarter trim panels with reading/courtesy lights.

These new interior quarter trim panel inserts would also appear on the Collector's Series where the roof design eliminated the opera windows.

Below are some examples of the Luxury Group colors available during production: Designer Series appearance packages were available in Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, and Emilio Pucci series — each with coordinated exterior paint, interior upholstery and trim, vinyl roof and body-side moldings.

Each was distinguished by a corresponding decklid decal, the designer's signature in the opera window glass, and a dash-mounted 22-karat gold-plated nameplate.

Alongside the Lincoln Versailles, the Diamond Jubilee Edition was one of the first Ford Motor Company vehicles to utilize clear-coat paint.

Every new owner was given car keys matching the interior trim and could request a Ford-created cookbook entitled "Ford Diamond Jubilee Recipe Collection".

To commemorate the end of Continental Mark V production, the 1978 Diamond Jubilee Edition was repackaged for 1979 as the Collector's Series.

[20] In a slightly monochromatic appearance, midnight blue and white cars have matching vinyl tops while silver and diamond-blue cars have midnight blue vinyl tops; all examples were given a gold-colored grille with a gold-trimmed hood ornament.